The police have launched an undercover operation in Colombo and its suburbs to nab criminal elements, from pickpockets to chain snatchers and bag grabbers, who are known to become active during festival seasons, a senior policeman said yesterday.
Hundreds of hand-picked police officers from the crime divisions have already been deployed on a 24 hour beat, mainly in areas that attract large crowds such as shoppers, Senior Police Superintendent Ranjith Gunasekera said.
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| A pickpocket in action |
Most of the police operatives who are deployed on this special beat have a thorough knowledge of known criminal elements which prowl in Colombo and its suburbs during such periods, SSP Gunasekera said.
“They will also be assisted by police motor cycle units which could reach the scene of a crime at very short notice,” he said.
He also cautioned the general public-mainly female shoppers to avoid wearing excessive jewellery and not carry hand bags with long straps since they are easy prey to these criminal elements.
These elements are also armed with sharp instruments such as blades and barber’s razors that are used mainly to slit open hand bags and therefore they are considered dangerous, SSP. Gunasekera further warned.
The known spots these criminal elements usually haunt are crowded shopping malls, public transport, market squares and cinemas, he said. | 
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